Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-02-01
AS AN AFTER DINNER rAlKER.
NibbiIng Brsad and slipping Apoiinaris
A Dinner OF D~eimonico's.

NibbiIng Rrsad and slipping Aponiaaris
A Dinner ct ~Deimonico's.
Henry Ward Beecher Is fond Of attend
ing public dinners although on such &C.
casions he scarcely ever eats anything.
While those around him are slowing
away all Of tho solids and fluids within
their reach the Plymouth pastor nibbles
bread and sips Apollinaris. lie. how
ever, keeps up q steady flow OF talk that
puts every person within sound u his
voice in q merry humor. Mr.. Bcecher's
presence at q banquet insurcs an enjoya-
bio evening to all Of tho other partici-
pants. 1t seems impossible for him TO
talk and not he entertaining. No matter
how many other distinguished mon and
able speakers thcro may lie at the festive
board, Dccchcr Is sure to be the oratori-
cal lion Of tho feast. His versatility and
~eloquence seem to have no limit. lilo
says shat he never prepares himself for
an after dinner speech, but takes his cue
from the Inspiration of the moment.
''Oh, please do not put me down for any
stated topic" he invariably demonstrates
when approached by the toast master;
..just let me know when my turn comes
to sIs,ak and l will rattle of something"
One night at Delmonico's, after Il partic-
ularly effective speech by Mr.. Beecher, q
newspaper reporter asked 1.-THE old man
eloquent for his notes. Mr.. Bcecher
handed the reporter a crpmpled bit OF
paper on which were traced almost illegi.
bly, the words HUXLEY" Darwin"
..Pshaw.'
1t is Mr.. Beecher's boast that he never
wore a dress coat He wears his every
day suit Of black broadcloth wherever he
goes. and though he may be-as he often
is-the only man among 200 Dr. 800 ban.
queters not attired in the regulation even-
ing dress, nobody would notice any in.
congruity. Beecher's strong personality
completely overshadows such petty de-
tails as dress. About three years ago q
big dinner was given ut Delmonico's BY
the chamber Of commerce, at which there
were present President Arthur, Gen.
Grant, Governor Cleveland and the gov
ernors Of ten other states. The affair was
intended to be very swell and 50 it was.
Mr.. Beecher arrived late, and a few of his
friends could not help noticing that he
had paid less attention to his toilet than
usual. But the sturdy e~xpounder had no
apologies 10 offer. In the course Of his
speech, which was one Of the most elo-
quent he wa ever heard to utter, he ex.
planned that he had just come from his
farm at Peekskill and had hurried to
catch the train. The charm Of his ora
tory set the company wild with enthusi.
asm, and at the finish, after the cheering
and waving Of handkerchiefs and napkins
had ceased, Gen. Grant clasped the speak
er's hand and in tones Of genuine admira-
ton said; Mr.. Beecher, / don't know
what kind Of a farmer you are, but - q
talker you are some pumpkins"
On a subsequent occasion the Plymouth
pastor made a notable speech in belmont
co.'s 1t was at a great banquet given in
honor Of Henry Irving. Mr.. Beecher's
tribute to the drama and his word pict-
ures Of some of Shakespeare's noblest
creations touched chords OF sympathy in
every listeners heart. The demonstra-
ton that followed the speech lasted nearly
three minutes. and almost every person
in the room evinced an ~irrepressible desire
to shake hands with Mr.. Beecher. More
than 100 Of the menus were passed up to
receive the autographs of Mr.. Irving and
Mr.. Beecher. The writer Of these recol.
lections was n Of the guilty persons who
solicited those autographs, and after he
had obtained them he showed the card to
poor John Mccullough, who wrote under
the two names: The pulpit and the
stage-the powerful educators Of the
world-John Mccullough New York
Times.